Way of the Holy Grail Receives FOTUR 2025 Tourism Award, Strengthening European Cultural Projection

The Way of the Holy Grail in Europe was distinguished with the FOTUR 2025 Tourism Award during a gala at the Palau Alameda in Valencia on December 15, consolidating its position as a cultural project of European scope that unites heritage, identity, tradition and territorial development. The event celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Federation of Leisure and Tourism (FOTUR) and brought together institutional representatives, tourism sector entities, and cultural professionals to highlight tourism as an economic, social and cultural engine of the Valencian region.

Dr. Ana Mafé García, president of the cultural itinerary and international reference in the scientific study of the Holy Chalice of the Cathedral of Valencia, attended alongside Mr. Jesús Gimeno Peris, Secretary of the entity, and Mrs. Liubov Daniel Albariño, International Director of the project. Their presence underlined the institutional, academic and strategic nature of an itinerary that aspires to continue strengthening the cultural projection of the Valencian Community in Europe. The gala featured institutional interventions by María de los Llanos Massó Linares, president of Les Corts Valencianes, and Marian Cano, Minister of Innovation, Industry, Trade and Tourism of the Generalitat Valenciana, who highlighted the importance of a tourism model linked to cultural identity, innovation and social cohesion.

The Way of the Holy Grail was recognized as a symbol of culture, tradition and territorial structuring during the awards presentation, which also honored other Valencian projects in design, gastronomy, music, festivals and tourism promotion. Víctor Pérez, president of FOTUR, emphasized the consolidation of this gala as an essential meeting point for the sector. The celebration was supported by collaborating firms including Coca-Cola, Bodegas Gandía, Dicoval, Heineken and Varma, with the Valencian company Pitiminís responsible for the design of the awards.

This recognition reinforces The Way of the Holy Grail's role as a strategic cultural project aligned with values of sustainability, European identity and heritage enhancement. The itinerary is a long-term cultural and touristic project promoted by the Valencian Community that connects territories, cities and landscapes of the Mediterranean basin and Europe through a common story based on history, culture, spirituality, art and knowledge. It integrates historical routes linking the Middle East, Italy, France and Spain, with special prominence of Aragon and Valencia as key territories in the arrival and custody of the Holy Chalice traditionally identified with the Holy Grail of Christian tradition.

Conceived as a tool for territorial structuring and sustainable development aligned with European values of cultural cooperation, intercultural dialogue, peace and social cohesion, the project contributes to tourism deseasonalisation, rural environment dynamization, and tangible and intangible heritage enhancement through cultural, educational, academic and tourist actions. The itinerary has the support of an International Scientific Commission for the Study of the Holy Grail, which provides academic rigour to the historical and symbolic narrative, and works toward certification as a European Cultural Route of the Council of Europe. This positions Valencia and the Valencian Community as international benchmarks in cultural, spiritual and knowledge tourism, strengthening their role in constructing a shared cultural narrative on an international scale. More information about the project can be found at https://www.thewayoftheholygrail.com.